Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-08-25
CHAPTER II

It was q lovely May morning, and as was
the custom we were all in the yard enjoy
ing the soft breeze, the bright sun and the
fragrant breath of the flowers that blossom
In countless profusion in the neatly kept
grounds l had taken out q book to read
but the soft air and delicious lull of the
morning were too enchanting, and the leaves
lay unturned while sat watching fleecy
cloud sailing over the sky. / am an old
woman now, but have never forgotten
that May morning so long ago. Every Incl
dent of it is as wildly impressed upon my
mind, as though it happened but yesterday.
al wish could pick flower" said Mollie
Dare, a little girl of eight or nine, cycling a
bed of purple pansies before her. 81 think
] might, too; it's real mean that we can't
pick just one, I'm going to anyhow"
"No, no, you must not" cried Nellie Win
tiers, arresting Mollie's hand in the disobedi-
ent act. "You will be punished il you do.
al don't care" cried reckless Mollie, an
grily II think it's mean, and / hate this
old place, wish could go away and never
come back" And here, out of breath, she
flung herself down on the grass and pouted
In silence.
YOU'RE goose" said Nellie; "you
don't know what is good for you. / won
der what we'd do if it weren't for this
home When I'm grown mean to be q
matron like Mrs. Hart, should like it So"
81 wouldn't" said Mamie Briggs, whose
face was like some pictured saints it was
SO fair and sweet ~ mean, when / am
grown-up, to go out into the world and be q
fine lady and wear nice, soft dresses and
bright rings, like the ladies that were here
yesterday" And the vain little creature
tossed her small head contemptuously at
Nellie, who only smiled in return.
"Say, Dorcas," cried Nanny, turning to
mo, wouldn't be meet Nellie is real
old woman, don't you think sol''
Whatever my reply was to have been 1t
was never made, for just then carriage
came swiftly up the walk and we all rose to
| catch glimpse of the occupants. But we
only caught sight of two ladies inside be-
fore it passed us. For moment after,
we stood looking ut each other in silence.
We had seen the same thing too many times
not TO know what it meant, for hardly a
week passed that some one did not visit the
| asylum intent upon adopting some OF our
number, and we had no doubt but this was
the errand upon which these visitors came
also. The next moment the call-bell rang,
and then we were certain; but still we said
nothing, only each taking companion we
/ quietly entered the NAH. Inc matron met US
and led us all into the long reception-room,
used to receive visitors. There seated in
large arm chairs were two ladies. One was
young, not more than thirty-five and strik-
| ingly handsome Her beauty being of that
| dark bright kind that does not fade but
ripens. She was richly dressed in dark-blue
velvet, with costly lace at the neck and
\ wrists. On her head she wore jaunty hat,
/ the same shade as her dress and ornamented
with dropping white plumes that swept to
her shoulders. Her dark hair was arranged
about her shapely head in rich coils, and the
small hands folded in her lap were exquis-
I itely gloved.
| noted all this, child though ! was, in the
| few moments / stood there, and, though
most children would have been attracted
/ toward the beautiful and dainty-looking
I lady, only shrank away, feeling strange
repulsion, almost amounting to fear, towards
her, and wishing / could hide myself behind
| the matrou's ample skirts. Ny next glance
fell on the other lady, who sat quite still,
1 looking up and down the line Of faces before
1 her, as if vainly searching for some particu-
| lar one amongst US. She was exactly the
I opposite OF her companion in looks and bear
/ ing. l remember, even then, wondering
I that they should be together. She was a
I woman at least fifty years Of age, and even
4 mora perhaps, for her hair was thickly
sprinkled with gray, and there were hard